Originally posted in 2009. Updated in June 2024.

I’ve attended the US Open tennis tournament in Queens’ Flushing Meadows every year for the past 30 years. It is, hands down, one of the best annual sporting events in NYC. It became more complicated for me to attend when my son was born so, for a while, I was not planning to attend.

Then, as luck would have it, a ticket “fell into my hands” for a Friday afternoon session. I was not going to pass up the opportunity. Unable to secure a babysitter, my son was joining me for his first professional sporting event. (I know, I am a bad dad because we have not even been to a baseball game yet).

US Open Tennis is kid-friendly

Overall, I found the vast US Open tennis grounds, known as the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, to be extremely baby- and child-friendly. It has only gotten more so in recent years:

• Diaper bags are allowed. However, the limit is one bag per person and it cannot be larger than 12-inches wide by 12-inches high by 16-inches long. (Single-compartment drawstring bags are OK but backpacks are not allowed.) There is no bag storage on the grounds, but you can leave them in a locker outside the East Gate or South Gate. Cost: $10 per locker, $20 per luggage.
• Baby changing stations in every public restroom!
• Nursing/lactation stations are located at the first aid stations at the Grandstand and Louis Armstrong Stadium.
• Strollers are permitted. The grounds are quite stroller-friendly, however, definitely opt for a lightweight, foldable umbrella model. Big and bulky are not optimal for cruising through the crowds and narrower walkways between the side courts.
• Reusable water bottles, metal or plastic, are allowed as long as they are 25 ounces or less.

The US Open is a pretty pricey place to bring a kid, though. Children age 2 and older require a full-price adult ticket to enter. There are plenty of food options and sweet treats on the US Open tennis grounds. However, bring a full wallet or a credit/debit card because you will pay a premium price.

But sometimes you get lucky. As we entered the event, they were handing out free cups of Stony Field Farms’ new organic yogurt. It made for a tasty lunch for my son! The cafe where we chowed down our lunch even provided a high chair for him.

I will admit – the amount of tennis I got to watch this year was an all-time low. My son did not have the patience to watch more than a few games at any one particular match. Therefore, we bounced around and watched a few games of several different matches.

A few other negatives: The late summer sun was intense and the crowds were thick. Despite the crowds, you can still get extremely close to the action if you avoid the main stadiums and spend time on the exterior (numbered) courts. We found that Court #7, had top seeds playing, was not too crowded, and provided some shade. You feel close to the action by walking around the grounds. We even got to meet tennis great Brad Gilbert (pictured above).

Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, Fan Week

After being canceled for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day returned to the US Open tennis tournament in 2022.

This free event celebrates the life and legacy of tennis and cultural icon Arthur Ashe, on Saturday, August 24, 2024. Tickets are not required, admission is free.

The day offers interactive games, music and tennis activities for all ages and abilities to promote the many health benefits of tennis. Tennis legends and current superstars always show up to meet and greet. It will also feature a free concert with exciting up-and-coming talent. In years past, superstars like Rafael Nadel, the Williams sister, Coco Gauff, Ariana Grande, Flo Rida and Demi Lovato have appeared/performed.

Kids’ Day is part of the also free pre-tourney US Open Fan Week, scheduled for August 19-25, 2024. This is a great, inexpensive alternative to attending the main tournament. Every day is filled with tennis-centric activities for the whole family and special events.

The tennis center grounds are open, free of admission charges, to the public during Fan Week. You can watch the tourney qualifying matches, superstars of the game practicing up close and even a Legends of the Game match.

On a hot summer morning, I walk stealthily from my car to the covered pavilion in between two rows of tennis courts at the front of the park.

I make sure to approach from a particular direction, keeping the small trees and bushes between me and the courts so I remain unnoticed. I sit on a weathered green bench attached to a picnic table. I disrupt a squirrel’s meal and, startled, it scampers away to safety.

I’ve given up some things to be a stay-at-home parent — career, money, a large swath of my sanity — but moments like this make the sacrifice worth it. Quiet moments of secretive observation like this are why I am most grateful for my life choices and the privilege that allows me to make those choices.

This is when I stop thinking about all things I could be doing and appreciate what I am doing. I’m experiencing my children’s childhood and that matters.

My two sons, ages 5 and 7, go to tennis camp during the summer at the county park just around the corner from our house. Tennis has been an important part of my life since I started playing when I was 7. My interest and commitment have ebbed and flowed over the years, but it remains a part of who I am. As sports go, it was unique enough that I took it on as part of my personality when I was growing up. Plenty of kids played baseball or basketball, but I played tennis! And as I grew into an adult, as my life changed and took me in different directions, tennis remained my touchstone. A link to my past and something I could rely on to be there in my future.

However, while tennis is an important part of my life, my children are my world. I love watching them do anything. Well, almost anything. I don’t particularly enjoy watching them watch people playing Minecraft on YouTube, even though they wish I did. I love watching them on the playground or playing soccer. I love seeing them test their limits and exist in a world that’s not controlled by me.

As parents, we can cast a long shadow on our children’s lives. That’s why I love observing my children when I’m not in charge. When I’m not expected to play along. When they don’t even know I’m there. Like today.

My 7-year-old appears to be carrying on a continuous running commentary as he and the three other children on his court retrieve orange-and-yellow tennis balls from the cart, drop them, and then hit erratic forehands that fly in all directions. I can’t help but chuckle because he is so different from me in some ways and I love it. I worry about my children inheriting my anxieties and shyness, so I’m always pleased when they show signs of having more outgoing personalities.

Two courts over, my 5-year-old is playing a slightly unusual game with the three other children in his group. He is holding a circular white laundry basket while his partner, a blonde-haired boy with knee-high socks, drops and hits oversized red-and-yellow tennis balls for him to catch. As the balls fly wildly through the air or bump along the ground, he scampers in every direction with his laundry basket in tow. He is determined, energetic, eager and, perhaps most importantly, very ready to take on some light laundry duties at home.

I, like many other moms and dads, often get lost in the weeds when parenting. We spend our days struggling to keep our children fed and cleaned and mentally stimulated (but not overstimulated!) and physically active and happy and on and on. Meanwhile, we often forget to step back to get a broader view.

I often wonder, “How are my children really doing?” Sure, we get the report cards and messages from teachers, the odd tidbit from an acquaintance or friend. That helps us ascertain some of what goes on when we’re not around. But what’s the real story of their everyday lives?

So I’m lucky when I get to spend a few minutes each week, silently and covertly, watching my children play the sport I love. It might not seem like much, but it’s just what I need to keep me focused on what really matters. I spend a lot of time worrying about what I’m not doing, like making money or policing my kids’ screen-time effectively or making my kids eat enough vegetables. I’m not doing so many things, but all it takes is a few minutes of quiet observation for me to remember that I must be doing some things right.

My children have unique personalities that are constantly evolving. They are happy and loved. And by the looks of things, at least one of them is going to be helping out with the laundry very soon. But best of all, I get a front-row seat to watch it all happen. Even if that seat is sometimes hidden behind tree branches.

Photo: © HBS / Adobe Stock.

“I shaved nearly 20 minutes off my time from 2009,” said marathoner, Anthony Caso. “It’s probably a result of good coaching,” joked John McEnroe, as he was reunited with Caso, one of the six runners on his Dove Men+Care Deodorant Real Men Marathon team. Tennis stud and well-known confrontational specialist, John McEnroe, was brought on as the team’s “anti-irritation coach” to impart tips and wisdom from his own personal “triumph over irritation.”

Standing on the sidelines and cheering on the runners at the annual NYC Marathon is a tradition for my personal family.  We bundle up, drink hot chocolate, and stand equipped with noisy cowbells and clackers. It’s so inspirational to watch the runners stride past with their names proudly painted on their shirts and complete this amazing test of endurance.

I was thrilled to meet some of the marathoners on the team that Dove Men+Care assembled to hear their inspirational stories, the challenges they’ve overcome, and about being parents.  

One of the team members, Anthony Caso, a father of two boys – ages 2 and 4, said, “I ride my bike and run marathons to show my sons that playing doesn’t stop when we grow up.” 

That’s a wonderful message to live by!

Tennis was a tremendous part of my childhood and continues to play an important role in my life. Therefore, it was an absolute honor to talk with one of my childhood idols, Johnny Mac, the team’s “anti-irritation coach.” We discussed his role as marathon coach, being a parent, and tennis. Here are some of the highlights from our interview: 

“Coaching the Dove Men+Care marathon team was much easier than winning a Grand Slam Tennis Tournament,” McEnroe joked as we settled into our interview.

NYC Dads Group: You’re the Dove Men+Care “anti-irritation coach.” It’s an unusual title. Please explain what it all means.

John McEnroe: The idea of Dove Men+Care’s Deodorant is to help all men end everyday irritation and so there was a natural connection based on my past history on the tennis court with irritation, in a semi-comical fun way.  Plus, I’m from NYC, live close to the finish line, and after the challenges we’ve endured with (Storm Sandy’s) cancellation of the marathon last year and with the Boston tragedy, this coaching job had an added significance and was a great fit for me personally.

NYC Dads Group: Have you ever run a marathon?

John McEnroe: Thankfully, not. 

NYC Dads Group: You’ve got a well-known history of being confrontational on the court and for temper flare-ups.  Our audience is parents, what advice can you offer parents out there who are faced with moments “when they’ve had it?”

John McEnroe: There is nothing comparable to being a parent…a totally different animal to a coach telling you how to act while your playing tennis against an opponent.

I’ve got six kids through two marriages and that has actually given me a lot more patience. It’s changed me quite a bit, for the better. You’re responsible for this person and set a good example. In retrospect, parents make lots of mistakes – it’s important to reflect and learn from them to be better. My key is always to be there for my kids on a consistent basis and to love my kids.

NYC Dads Group: As the Dove Men+Care “anti-irritation coach,” what kind of wisdom did you impart to your dynamic team of marathon runners?

John McEnroe: Running marathons and playing tennis is different. I realize I’m not an expert on long-distance running, but I gave these men some advice on staying loose as they geared up for the big race. Making sure they got a good night’s rest, although that’s easier said than done.  Also, we talked about when you hit that proverbial wall…trying to compartmentalize the race in smaller parts, notching each part off the belt so you attain small victories(like I just finished this one mile)as you’re on the path to that light at the end of the tunnel. 

NYC Dads Group: Is it important to you for tennis to be an integral part of your children’s lives?

John McEnroe: Yes, tennis being a part of their lives was important. It’s not something I was going to push my kids towards, but it was my hope that all of them would know how to play.  

Expectations are very high when one of your parents is a successful athlete, and immediately as soon as they would walk out on a court, questions would arise: “Will you be as a good as your father?” and “How are they are going to react to the chair umpire?” so having that shadow would be challenging and they’d have to be very thick-skinned. Several of my children played competitive high school tennis and enjoy tennis, but never took it too seriously to compete beyond that level, and it’s probably better that way.  

NYC Dads Group: What are your favorite things to do together with your family?

John McEnroe: I love to be able to take my kids to a sporting event like a New York Knicks game or a New York Jets game because I’m a big sports fan. Living in New York, we have a lot of options, seeing a great play, or art show, or play music together with my kids.  Additionally, I really enjoy the basic things like having everyone together at the dinner table and having great conversations with my kids.   

After spending the afternoon with the Dove Men+Care Deodorant Real Men Marathon Team, I was motivated to hit the gym, but not sure I was ready for the mental toughness these guys all shared in preparing for a 26.2-mile marathon.  Running a 5K is a little more my style.   

*Disclosure: Dove Men+Care is an NYC Dads Group sponsor. We work with brands that fit with our mission, and the ideas and opinions presented here are entirely our own.

Editor’s Note: The U.S. Open Tennis Tournament is hands-down, my favorite local sporting event every year. I’ve been attending the annual tournament since I was 10 (only missing one year due to bad weather) so it’s safe to say that when the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center reached out to our NYC Dads Group to invite us in for a trial run of their “Tennis for Juniors Program” – we were all in! I couldn’t wait to take my son for his first real tennis lesson at the legendary US Tennis Center. Recapping our experience is NYC Dads Group member, Bill M., who shares his bonding experience with his 5-year-old daughter, Anna Rose. – L.S.

“Tennis anyone?” 

“Why yes!,” a few Dads replied when the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center invited the NYC Dads group to participate in a discounted hour-long session with a team of their pro tennis coaches. 

We all marveled when we entered the facility, which is truly impressive and is just filled with tennis history. It really feels like a professional tennis center, not an average tennis club. The kids enjoyed the cool, sleek design of the giant lobby area that feels like a combination of a modern airport and a sports arena. They happily jumped around on the oversized couches, which looked like they could be in a high-tech playground! 

The small group of boys and girls were lucky enough to experience what it’s like to work with real tennis coaches. These pros were great with the kids and brought them through a series of warm-up drills, like “hot potato” with tennis balls and small shovels as well as basic stretches and other exercises. The Dads were then invited to enter the mix and we worked on bouncing the tennis balls to and from our kids, which helped the kids with dexterity and getting familiar with how a tennis ball bounces. 

It all seemed very simple and playful, but then things got challenging! The kids were shown both a forehand and backhand stroke and we engaged in a drill to work on both these techniques. This was great for both the kids and the dads and we were all impressed by how advanced yet accessible the final drills were. The kids were great! 

I don’t know about anyone else, but I definitely want my daughter to move further with tennis and she’s game! We were all given a kid’s-weight tennis ball which we can use at home to continue working on drills with our kids. 

Thanks again to the National Tennis Center for hosting us for a great NYC Dads’ visit and experience.